How Evacuation Decisions Are Made

The decision to evacuate is made by local officials in coordination
with other jurisdictions in the region. This normally involves
conference calls with local and state officials as well as the
National Weather Service.
An evacuation decision may be made as a result of these calls.
Computerized tracking and analysis models are also helpful in
deciding if or when to evacuate. Key factors in evacuation decision
making include:

Providing enough time for people in
storm surge zones and mobile homes to leave before the arrival
of 39 mph winds;

Selecting an appropriate evacuation
time to allow citizens to get to safety during daylight hours;
and Providing the news media with enough time to warn the
greatest number of people.

People have several choices for their
evacuation destination. They can go to a hotel or motel outside
the storm surge zones, to the home of family or friends, or
they can go to a public shelter. Evacuation and shelter openings
usually happen simultaneously.